Systematics and biogeography of Tropical Eastern Pacific Chthamalus with descriptions of two new species (Cirripedia, Thoracica)

Abstract

Distribution patterns of Chthamalus along the Tropical Eastern Pacific region have not yet been described, mostly due to unknown species ranges and the presence of cryptic species that has biased previous attempts to describe them. Prior to this paper, four formal and two informal species of Chthamalus have been recognized as occurring along the Pacific Americas coast: C. dalli Pilsbry; C. fissus Darwin; C. anisopoma Pilsbry; C. panamensis Pilsbry, Chthamalus sp. “cortezianus” and Chthamalus sp. “mexicanus”. The two informal species were already known to exist, based on previous studies using allozymes and gene sequencing, but their morphological characterizations were not determined, thus preventing their recognition and the ascertainment of their status under the International code of Zoological Nomenclature. The main goal of the present study was to discover the morphological differences that distinguish these two species, to determine their latitudinal range, to establish some relationship among the other species of Chthamalus, and to correlate these with the informal names previously used. Two new species of Chthamalus are described: C. hedgecocki sp. nov. occurring along the Mexican coast (Mexican province) and Chthamalus southwardorum sp. nov. occurring from the Gulf of California (Mexico) to the north of Peru, being a typical member of Panamanian s. l. Province. Both species belong to the Chthamalus fissus group of species as they have bidenticulate setae with basal guards on cirrus II and an absence of conical spines on the outer face of the exopod of cirrus I. The names Chthamalus sp. “cortezianus” is herein associated with C. hedgecocki and Chthamalus sp. “mexicanus” with C. southwardorum. An extensive sympatric distribution of Chthamalus species was noticed along the Eastern Pacific, and Chthamalus panamensis, previously known to be limited to the Panamanian coast, was found up to the Mexican coast in sympatry with C. hedgecocki. The COI genetic divergence between C. panamensis and C. hedgecocki varied between 2.8–4.3 using (GTR+G). We suggest that these species form a sibling pair based on to their morphological, ecological and genetic similarities and their evolution took place along the Eastern Pacific coast after the closure of the Isthmus of Panama. Chthamalus southwardorum is the best choice for a sibling pair with C. proteus, as they share morphological and ecological features; nevertheless they present a very high genetic divergence (24.3 to 25.1 GTR+G). Further studies are needed to clarify the evolutionary processes that led to the evolution of the Chthamalus fissus group of species along the Tropical Eastern Pacific coast and in the Caribbean.

A “Shallow Phylogeny” of Shallow Barnacles (Chthamalus)

“…Genbank accessions for the remaining loci are provided as alignments: mt16S FJ862065-306; nLTRS FJ862503-665; nNAKAS FJ862666-774; nEF1 FJ862307-FJ862502. Combined collection locations include Caribbean Panama (sites at 9.33°, −82.25°; 9.55°, −79.65°; and 9.52°, −79.55°) and Tropical Eastern Pacific (8.96°, −79.51°; 9.95°, −84.87°; 19.28°, −104.78°; 19.58°, −105.12°; 20.77°, −105.52°; 23.15°, −106.20°; 24.25°, −110.00°; and 28.77°, −111.88°).a C. proteus analyzed in this study BLAST to clade A of Zardus & Hadfield [43].bcollected and validated Yixiong Cai; corresponds to Indo-Malay clade of Tsang et al [24].cvalidated by A. J. Southward.dfrom [36].efrom [21].fspecies validated through clade identity with type specimen sequences in [7]. For more information on distribution of individual species see [7] and Meyers, Pankey & Wares (in prep).…”

“…For more information on distribution of individual species see [7] and Meyers, Pankey & Wares (in prep).…”

Importância de fenômenos físicos e biológicos na regulação do assentamento larval de uma população da craca >i<Chthamalus bisinuatus >/i<Pilsbry (1916) no entre-marés consolidado

“…Amplamente distribuídas pelo mundo, cracas pertencentes ao gênero Chthamalus (Cirripedia: Chthamalidae) são bastante comuns no mesolitoral superior de costões rochosos (Newman & Ross, 1976), ocorrendo principalmente em regiões tropicais e temperadas (Pitombo & Burton, 2007). O gênero é globalmente distribuído, localmente abundante e relativamente diverso com mais de 20 espécies (Pitombo & Burton, 2007;Yan & Chan, 2004).…”

“…Amplamente distribuídas pelo mundo, cracas pertencentes ao gênero Chthamalus (Cirripedia: Chthamalidae) são bastante comuns no mesolitoral superior de costões rochosos (Newman & Ross, 1976), ocorrendo principalmente em regiões tropicais e temperadas (Pitombo & Burton, 2007). O gênero é globalmente distribuído, localmente abundante e relativamente diverso com mais de 20 espécies (Pitombo & Burton, 2007;Yan & Chan, 2004). Larvas de ctamalídeos são muito abundantes em amostras de plâncton coletadas próximo à costa durante o verão, e sua correta identificação é extremamente desejável para qualquer estudo de sazonalidade reprodutiva ou dispersão larval (Burrows et al, 1999).…”

“…Larvas de ctamalídeos são muito abundantes em amostras de plâncton coletadas próximo à costa durante o verão, e sua correta identificação é extremamente desejável para qualquer estudo de sazonalidade reprodutiva ou dispersão larval (Burrows et al, 1999). Oito espécies de Chthamalus foram reportadas no continente americano, sendo que quatro ocorrem na costa do Pacífico (C. dalli Pilsbry, C. fissus Darwin, C. anisopoma Pilsbry e C. panamensis Pilsbry) e outras quatro na costa do Atlântico (C. fragilis Darwin, C. proteus Dando & Southward, C. angustitergum Pilsbry e C.bisinuatus Pilsbry) (Pitombo & Burton, 2007).…”